Cappie Pondexter sorry for tweets

New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter has apologized after causing an Internet uproar with comments on her Twitter account that were deemed insensitive toward victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

On Saturday, Pondexter tweeted: "What if God was tired of the way they treated their own people in there own country! Idk guys he makes no mistakes."

She later tweeted: "u just never knw! They did pearl harbor so u can't expect anything less."

Pondexter also used the racially derogatory term "jap," when referring to someone who was offended by her comments.

On Monday morning, Pondexter issued an apology on her verified Twitter account "cappa23."

"I wanna apologize to anyone I may hurt or offended during this tragic time," the tweet said. "I didn't realize that my words could be interpreted in the manner which they were. People that knw me would tell u 1st hand I'm a very spiritual person and believe that everything, even disasters happen 4 a reason and that God will shouldn't be questioned but this is a very sensitive subject at a very tragic time and I shouldn't even have given a reason for the choice of words I used.

"The least thing I wanted was to hurt or offend anyone so again I truly apologize. If you've lost respect for me that's totally fine but please don't let me or my words lose the respect of u the WNBA and what it stands for.

The Anti-Defamation League in New York issued a statement on Pondexter's remarks.

"Cappie Pondexter's words show the endurance of long-held bigoted and prejudiced attitudes toward the Japanese, even from young Americans in today's society whose only knowledge of the Second World War comes from history books and popular culture," Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham H. Foxman said.

"While it is encouraging that Pondexter felt enough remorse to apologize for her insensitive and prejudicial words, the apology did not go far enough. The notion that God would punish an entire country because of some assumed moral or spiritual defect is, in fact, another form of intolerance. Pondexter needs to understand why her words were so painful, and why it is prejudiced to suggest that one people may be inferior to another in the eyes of God."

The Liberty responded to a request for comment from ESPNNewYork.com.

"We have spoken to Cappie and the content of that conversation will remain internal," the team said. "She made a mistake and quickly apologized for that mistake. We will have no further comment."

The WNBA declined to comment on Pondexter's tweets.

Pondexter, a four-year pro, averaged a career-best 21.4 points per game for the Liberty last season.

Mike Mazzeo is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com. ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.